Breast Cancer Patients Guide to Sub Q Injections
Breast cancer treatment plans have often included intravenous medications, which can take hours to administer. Now, some of those same therapies are available as subcutaneous injections delivered just under the skin, often in a fraction of the time.
According to the report, subcutaneous injections contain the same medications used in the intravenous version of the drug, but they are formulated slightly differently so they can be delivered under the skin rather than through a vein.
Clinical trials have shown that subcutaneous treatments are just as effective as their intravenous counterparts. Dr. Erin Cobain, a medical oncologist and co-director of the breast cancer clinical research team at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center, said, “We have clear evidence from clinical trials that the efficacy is equivalent. The data is robust.”
Many patients want to know whether they are giving up any benefits or affecting their long-term outcomes by choosing the newer injection over the traditional intravenous version of a drug. Dr. Cobain said concerns about efficacy are among the most common questions patients ask when subcutaneous treatment is offered.
For many patients, the biggest advantage of a subcutaneous injection versus an intravenous infusion is the time it saves. Less time in the infusion chair often means less time at the clinic overall and more time to live life. Dr. Cobain explained that administering trastuzumab or pertuzumab via an intravenous treatment takes about 30 minutes per drug, while the combination Phesgo subcutaneous injection can be administered simultaneously over about a six- to eight-minute period.
In addition to being faster, Dr. Cobain said subcutaneous treatments allow some patients to avoid the need for a port. Because the medication is delivered under the skin rather than through a vein, patients who are not receiving other intravenous therapies may not need long-term intravenous access.
While subcutaneous treatments are typically faster than intravenous infusions, Dr. Cobain said it’s essential to know that these injections take several minutes to administer. Most patients tolerate them well, but the duration can come as a surprise if someone expects an experience more like a flu shot or COVID-19 vaccine.
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Dr. Cobain said she and her team make a point of setting expectations in advance so patients know they will spend several minutes sitting in the infusion chair, even though it’s an injection. “It’s not long, but it’s minutes, not seconds,” she said.
Some people who want subcutaneous treatment can’t get it due to financial barriers rather than medical ones. Dr. Cobain explained that if someone is a candidate for the intravenous therapy, they’re generally a candidate for the subcutaneous therapy, and typically, what ends up dictating the situation for patients is their own personal preferences followed by what their insurance will cover.
Dr. Cobain recommends asking about insurance authorization early in the process to avoid any potential issues.
In the middle of this shift towards subcutaneous treatments, it’s worth considering the broader implications of these developments. As subcutaneous therapies become more widely available, they may help reduce the burden on healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes. With more treatment options on the horizon, patients and healthcare providers will need to work together to ensure that patients receive the best possible care for their specific condition.
For patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, subcutaneous treatments like Phesgo and Herceptin Hylecta are already making a difference. As research continues to advance, it’s likely that we’ll see even more innovative treatments emerge, offering new hope for patients and their families.
Dr. Cobain and her team are committed to providing the best possible care for their patients. They understand that each patient’s situation is unique and requires a personalized approach. By working together, they can ensure that patients receive the most effective treatment for their specific needs.
